Kent Middleton Cup regular Ken Weyand won the men’s singles title for the fourth time in 13 years at the annual Broadstairs open bowls tournament on Saturday.

Weyand, a stalwart of Thanet League champions St Lawrence, came from behind to beat Minster’s Len Cooper 21-14 in a dramatic final.

After trailing 13-11 at one stage he took four ends in a row with a succession of short jacks and clinched the crown by bagging a brace at the 22nd.

Said a relieved Weyand: “That was a really hard game and the £200 prize money will help to pay for a forthcoming family holiday to Florida.”

In the semis he trimmed Albert Brockwell (Ramsgate) by 21-17 while Cooper saw off Ken Chesson (Warlingham) 21-10.

A major consolation for the big contingent of Minster members round the green was the success of another of their very own, Sylvia Pritchard, in the ladies singles final.

She just got the better of regular Lincolnshire visitor and the 1999 champion Jill Edson (Boultham Park) 21-16 to nail the £100 and trophy.

Earlier in the day Weyand had partnered Bernadette Farnham (Ramsgate) to victory in the mixed pairs. The duo, who shared £100, capitalised on a flying start to sink Linda Blackman (Ramsgate) and Ray Greenstreet (Dane Park) 19-16 in the final.

Winners of the new Ken and Joan Wood Memorial Trophy for first game losers were Minster’s Pritchard and Cooper. They pipped Belmont’s Elaine Jackson and Alan Morton 23-21